31 August 1944

Thursday

Darling Lady,

I have just got com back from making a purchase for you and spending a half hour or two with Geo L. What did I buy for you? Well it is something I have been trying to get for sometime although I cannot look upon it as a present but I do want you to have it. An automatic pistol. I got a nice little thirty two caliber with several shells in the clip. I got twenty five dollars for it and was lucky to get it. I looked at another but they wanted forty for it. They are hard to find at any price. This one is good shape and I am having it stripped and thoroughly cleaned before sending it on. The problem now is how to get it to you. Of course the mails are out so I may have to give it to some pilot coming north and have him express him to you. I want to get George Stannus to show you how it works for they can be dangerous if you are not careful in how you handle it when you pull the slide back. I will write you a list of instructions as well. I know that you know how to handle guns and am not worried about that very much as long as you are shown the first time. One rule I want you to know and fully appreciate dear and I am serious. NEVER pull your gun out unless you actually intend to use it. In other words don’t bluff with it when you pull it shoot. Once your bluff is called you are in a worse spot than ever. And don’t shoot over anyone’s head either. When you get it out shoot and mean business. That may sound sort of silly now but after all a gun is for a purpose and that is the reason. I got it all for your protection there alone so the rules go with the gun. If Geo S will take you out and let you shoot it, it will be better although you had better watch the ammo for it is very hard to get and what I am sending is all there is unless you find some other. ONE promise do not shoot me with it little Toots for you and I are not named Frankie and Johnie. “Roll me over easy for the bullets hurt me so” I will get it to you at the first opportunity dear.

Had two nice letters from you today and you mentioned talking to Geo and some of the things that he said. One about why my outfit was moving. What is it gal. I sometimes do not like the kidding that Geo does for it is hard to tell when he is earnest. We had coffee together this morning and he was telling me how he had told you all about my girls down here. When I didn’t take the bait then he started on how all the men came up to speak to you when you two were at the hotel and what a time you were having. If he would give some indication that he had been kidding but he leaves it at that. Of course I know that he was kidding and in the second place nothing can shake my faith and I know that I have never done anything to shake yours. As long as ones own conscience is clear such truck doesn’t matter but the point I am trying to make is I can’t see what fun he gets out of that kind of kidding. Anyway I just let him have his fun and said we would probably sue him.

Maybe that is what you meant when you said that he told you things some of which you didn’t like. Baby doll if there is anything that you don’t like tell me and I will sure see that it is out right. For darling mine you are the one in this world that I want to please and no one else. If I can’t be in your eyes what I want to be then nothing is any good. I guess that it is just the same old story dear. I love a lassie and that lassie is you.

Tommy sounds as though he has a fine assignment but will be off to war again in due time. He evidently did all right over there and was sent back here to take that job if I am correct. Tommy is a good man honey way above the average and I have been associated with him over a good many years.

Your letters were newsy and I sure enjoyed them dear. I like to hear about all the people we know and the goings on. Don’t you worry about what Paul P said about Nick. I know Paul and he is not much of a one and believe me that. I know all about him. A little war and service has blown him up a bit I suppose but Nick is worth three of him any day or time. Paul is a lowbrow of the first water and is not even on the same plane as Nick and never was. That is not conjecture on my part either.

I sure would like to make that trip into Washington and Oregon for that is one part of the US I haven’t been in and I hear wonderful reports of it. Put that on our list dear. I don’t think that you would like New York to live in though sweet. That push and bustle after Texas is more than one can take and believe me you. There are many attractions for a while but that soon wears off. I would like to spend a trip in NY with you though dearest. We could have fun and no fooling. There is lots to do.

I have now had a striker that scrubs and cleans as well you my little bug might desire. He really gets in there and rubby dub dubs. My place is the nicest since I have been down here. I was glad to hear that you liked my smell dearest. No fooling. And Tootsie I more than like yours if you know what I mean. It sort of excites me if you get what I mean again. Even with my poor poor smeller. Wouldn’t it be awful if you didn’t with that smeller of yours. One of the world’s best I can assure you. Except out of season of course. I am waiting for the day I can get smelled up with bay rum and join you dear. Tomorrow is the first of September and that is that much nearer and believe me I count the days.

Darling I stop again in this typing. I love you dearest and I know that I have the most wonderful wife in the world. No one ever had a better. A long embrace and Adios.

Edwin